Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.  This comes out on July 31st.  If you are into retellings as much as I have been this summer and you want something a little different in the mermaid realm go check this out.

I really enjoyed this retelling of The Little Mermaid. This is more of an origin story than a retelling, though the end of the story ends where the story most of us know picks up. Where this retelling differs from most of the other ones I've read recently is that is the story about how the Sea Witch came to be, not about the mermaid. This isn’t at all what I was expecting. It isn’t a fast paced, dark mermaid story. It is heavy on the romance, and more focused on the friendships and betrayals that happened on land that eventually lead to the formation of the Sea Witch.

I also really appreciated that this is set in Denmark with Danish history and mythology woven into the story. This does a really good job mixing the original Hans Christian Andersen tale with the historical witch hunts and fear that occurred all over the world. I loved the originality that this brought to the story. I love mythology and I loved what this tale brings to the table.

The story follows childhood best friends Evie, the royal fisherman’s daughter, and Nik, the crown prince of Ørseund. They had a third friend Anna who drowned several years prior, and with her passing Evie and Nik have only become better friends. Evie is disliked by the townsfolk because she is a commoner, but she gets to spend all of her time with the prince. She is also a witch, but it is her most closely kept secret as witches are killed on sight in her kingdom. Her mother was a witch and used her dying breath to save Evie’s life, her aunt Tante Hansa is also a witch and only teaches Evie a little magic here and there. Hansa works as a healer so her magic is hidden well. Just before the annual festival, a strange girl appears out of nowhere, but she looks just like Anna and her name just happens to be Annamette. She is our mermaid and she must fall in love after a few days or forfeit her life. She teaches Evie a few things about magic. The two girls become instant friends as if Anna had returned from the grave. Its clear from the start that Annamette is hiding something, but you arne’t sure if it is her magic, her true identity, her intentions, or all of the above. Evie so desperately wants her friend back, she feels so much guilt from the day Anna drowned. Nik also feels guilty, but much to Annamette’s dismay he simply will not kiss the girl in time to make her human. There are several romantic plot points in the book, but the romance was not my favorite part of the plot. It was OK, but the mythology and magic is what drew me in.

I wanted more from the magic system. Henning kind of glosses over the magic system and Evie never really learns about it. She has books she borrows from her aunt, and the little bits she picks up from Annemette. I just wanted it to be a bit more developed; it was just kind of there. I think Hansa was trying to protect Evie by not teaching her, that part just isn’t explained well.

This is a bit slow paced for my tastes, but there is a huge twist about 70% of the way in that I didn’t see coming. From that point on I had to know what happened. I did like that this isn’t at all what I expected, but in a good way. I thought it was going one way, but it took some turns I didn’t expect and ended up somewhere I never expected. I really liked the ending and loved the writing.


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Review: Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Narrated by Sarah Naughton (Narrator)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This mystery thriller follows main character Sasha, who has returned to her hometown after being gone for 10 years. She left to deal with the trauma of being the lone survivor of a serial killer in her small West Virgina town 10 years ago. In the time she has been gone she sought therapy, finished college, and put her life back together as best she could given what she went through at the hands of "The Groom". Now she's back to help her mother take care of the family inn and Sasha's past continues to haunt her. Not only does being back home bring back painful memories, but strange things start to happen to Sasha. When other women start to show up dead following the same pattern there is speculation that a copycat is recreating The Groom's previous kills and Sasha seems to be some sort of target.

In the midst of her homecoming Sasha is reunited with some old friends and an old flame. Cole was her boyfriend when she was taken by The Groom, now he is a swoon-worthy FBI agent in the local area. Cole and Sasha were college sweethearts and never really got over each other despite the fact that they haven't seen each other for 10 years. Cole also harbors alot of guilt over the night Sasha was taken and the fact that he couldn't protect her. Now given a second chance at a relationship and an opportunity to protect her Cole isn't letting Sasha out of his sight. He is sweet, respectful, patient, kind, and caring. He lets her take the lead, but he lets her know that he's the protector.

I really loved the creepy inserts throughout the book from the serial killer's perspective. There were only a few, but they were just enough. You never quite know who the killer is until the end or where he is, but you know he's close by. Like in the same building close. I had my suspicions as to who he was early on, but I wasn't quite sure until the reveal, which was awesome. I really enjoyed the reveal. I like it when I think I know but I'm not sure. Parts of the book were purposefully vague to keep you on your toes. I like it when authors keep things back, but eventually tell the whole story.

I love Armentrout's thrillers, and this adult mystery thriller is another great read.

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Review: Beard Science by Penny Reid

Beard Science by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally we get Cletus's story!

Cletus is always scheming something and meddling in people's lives, especially when it comes to his siblings. Cletus is a bit strange and set in his ways, and people mistake him for being simple. He is brilliant and always two steps ahead of everyone. He is pretty much a criminal mastermind, but he's never been caught doing anything illegal and he is severly protective and loyal to his family. He never sees the Banana Cake Queen coming and the last thing he expects is for her to meddle in his business and try to out maneuver him.

Jennifer Sylvester is the Banana Cake Queen. She is famous for her banana cakes and other baked goods. Her mother dictates her every move, and her father doesn't miss a chance to belittle her. She has built protective measures for herself, but she's alone. All she wants is to get married, have a mess of kids, and maybe bake the way she wants not the way her mother wants her to. This is where Cletus comes in. Jennifer caught Cletus on tape doing something illegal, so she uses that to blackmail him into helping her find a husband and get out from under her parents.

Cletus and Jennifer form an unlikely alliance. What neither of them expects is to find pleasure in each other's company. Jennifer learns to stand on her own feet and speak for herself. Cletus learns that he has to put his trust in others, especially when it comes to love.

As with all of Penny's books and the rest of the series, I loved it. This is a fun contemporary read with plenty of humor.

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COVER REVEAL: CREW by Tijan

Summary:

To survive where I live, you have two options.

You can be a Normal—a cheerleader, jock, member of the debate team, or on the yearbook committee. You pretend everything is normal.

Or you can be crew.
You insult us? We hurt you.
You hurt us? We really hurt you.
And if you f*ck with us, we will end you.

My name is Bren.
I’m the only female in the Wolf Crew—the best, fiercest, and most dangerous crew there is—and we have a rule: There's no falling in love.

Well… too late.

**Full-length novel. First book in a YA Series. This book is dark, violent, and not for the faint of heart.** 

Links

Available for a limited time across all platforms. Then, it will enter KINDLE UNLIMITED. For those of you unfamiliar with KU, please see the informational post below.

GR: https://bit.ly/2L4YYyW

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1406039723

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/crew-6

Nook: https://bit.ly/2u96DpA

Paperback: preorder will be up soon! 

Tijan's Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TijansFanPage/

Date August 27

This is 100% a new series from TIJAN. All new characters in the Tijanverse and is intended for mature audiences only.

What is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription that allows you to access a large selection of titles from the Kindle Store. ... You can keep up to ten titles to read on any Amazon device or Kindle reading app and there are no due dates.

  

Tag Tuesday Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2018

I've been seeing this tag go around YouTube lately and it caought my attention. It also seems like a tag easily transated into a blog post. It was originally a blog post done by Chami and Ely at A Book So Fathomless. They also did You-Tube versions on their Vlogs IsThatChami and Earl Grey Books.

I'm well over my reading goal for the year and it is only halfway through the year so I should have some decent answers to the prompts.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2018. 

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah, and I also really loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  Both of these are non-fiction which isn't really my favorite genre, but these are both so wonderful.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2018. 
The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch, #2) by Rin Chupeco.  The Bone Witch was such a unique book, but I thought it was a bit slow paced.  The Heart Forger was an excellent sequel, it had action, magic, a good pace, but still kept a little mystery for the third book.  

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. 
War Storm(Red Queen, #4) by Victoria Aveyard.  I am really looking forward to seeing how this series concludes.  I've the audio version of this on hold at the library and I'm patiently waiting for my turn to find out how it all ends.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

Muse of Nightmares(Strange the Dreamer, #2) by Laini Taylor.  I loved Strange the Dreamer, it is on the list as my surprise favorite of the year so far.  I listened to the audio and I loved every second of it.  

5. Biggest disappointment.  

Warm Bodies(Warm Bodies, #1) by Issac Marion.  I liked the movie but the book just wasn't what I expected.  I just didn't enjoy the book.

6. Biggest surprise. 

Strange the Dreamer(Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor.  I loved this book so much.  This was a surprise favorite for me and I can't wait for the sequel to come out this October

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) .

Lucy Banks.  Lucy wrote Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost and The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger(Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #2) both are paranormal mysteries following a sort of unlikable main character that you can't help but like while he learns the ins and outs of paranormal investigation with a whimsical cast of characters.  I really enjoyed these and am looking forward to reading more from her.

8. Newest fictional crush. 

I'm going to go with Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer.  I just loved him.  He's a book nerd with a sense of adventure and a thirst for knowledge.

9. Newest favorite character.
I really loved Leah Westfall from the Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson.  I really loved the series and she was strong, stubborn, and self sufficient.  She had a great support system around her and I loved the mix of historical fiction and magic mixed together.

10. Book that made you cry. 
I dont' remember anything making me cry.  But things that were pretty emotional were Ryan's Bed and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

11. Book that made you happy. 

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.  The Princess Bride is one of my all time favorite movies.  This is such an awesome backstage look into one of my my most favorite movies ever.  Plus it is extremely funny.  I highly recommend the audio.

12. Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year. 

I didn't watch many book to movie adaptations this year, but one I did watch was The Martian.  I loved the book.  The movie was pretty good too.  I will say that I wish there was more of the humor from the book in the movie.  Mark Watney's humor was my favorite part of the book.

13. Favourite review you've written this year.

Ryan's Bed by Tijan.  I couldn't put this down.  It very gripping.  In the wake of one twin's suicide the other twin must try to pick up the pieces of her life and just try to get out of bed each day.

14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) 
I'm going with Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.  I was instantly drawn to the cover of this, it is a WWII historical fiction, which I love and I can't wait to get to it.  I also love the cover on Ancestors of Avalon(Avalon, #5) by Marion Zimmer Bradley.  I love her works and the covers are are really pretty.  This one has been out of print for a long time, I was able able to get it at a used book sale leaving me very happy.

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I have a bunch I need to read and review by the end of the year.  I've been really lucky to receive a bunch of ARCs, so those are a must.

• Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
• Nyxia Unleashed by Scott Reintgen
• Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller
• The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
• Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
• The Point by John Dixon
• Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
• Sadie by Courtney Summers
• Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
• The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

June Wrap Up

I think I read almost everything I planned to.  I didn't read as much as I wanted to, but I was on vacation for 2 weeks and reading wasn't the priority.  I still did a pretty good job and got all of my ARCs reviewed.  I hope to get the few outstanding reviews up in the next few days but I make no promises.  

What did you read in June?  Any recommendations for me?  Do you have any exciting vacation plans?  My family an I went to Orlando and went to Universal Studios and Disney.  It was ridiculously hot, but we had a blast.  It isn't much cooler here in Pennsylvania.

Books/Ebooks/ARCs

• The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young
• Review
• This is a great coming of age story with a ton of character development.  It is heavy on the teenage angst, which I don't love.  I love Samatha's writing and the way she develops her characters and identifies their flaws.  The main character starts out pretty unlikable but she grows so much.  I also really loved the poetry in this.  This will be out on June 26th.
• Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
• Review
• This was pretty dark and creepy.  It was a pretty wild ride.  I would never imagine a child doing some of the stuff that happens in this book.  This has some major shock value for sure.  This comes out July 17th.
• Born of Legend by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• I've been a huge fan of this series for a very long time.  The main character Jullien has been a villian for the entire series up until this installment.  We get to know him and his backstory.  While he isn't perfect, we learn that he isn't exactly the jerk everyone thinks is.  He's no teddy bear, but he has a softer side that he only reveals to a trusted few.  
• Dark Water by J.A. Armitage
• Review
• This is a Little Mermaid retelling.  it is a reverse fairy tale and keeps in the spirit of the original tale of The Little Mermaid with its own twists and turns.  It is a YA retelling and I found it enoyable but predictable and kind of tropey.  Is tropey a word?
• To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
• Another Little Mermaid retelling, I have one more to read after this one.  This one is dark and instead of a mermaid the main character is a siren who kills princes instead of falling in love with them.  She has no desire to be human, but as a punishment her mother the Sea Queen turns her into a human.  To gain back her status as a Siren Princess she must fight her humanity and obey her mother.  This was awesome.  I really loved it.   

Audiobooks

I'm taking the same approach I did last month, I'm going to see what is available and what I'm in the mood for.  I have a ton of  challenge books I want to get to, and audio seems to be the best way to get to my challenge books and the other stuff I want to read.  If only there were more time in the day to read.

• The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
• I kept hearing great things about this and I'm so glad I picked it up.  I really enjoyed this and I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment.  I found some of the plot to be fairly predictable, but I was still very entertained.
• Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Review
• This is another book I have a copy of but haven't gotten to yet.  Hoopla had it and it wasn't terrible long on audio so I was able to tackle in just a few days.  I love Jen's thrillers and this was no exception.  She keeps the elements of the crime pretty vague throughout.  I really loved the reveal at the end and while I had my suspicions of who the villain was, I wasn't quite sure until the end.  
• Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi
• Review
• I had this on hold on the library in e-book format, but I keep pushing it off.  My library finally got it in audio so I grabbed it.  This has a totally different feel than the original series.  The characters feel different, and it is almost as if we are restarting with Juliette and Warner and the rest of the cast.  I'm not sure if it is because I listened to it or if it really is because it has been so long since the original series.  Then again, they've been through alot and they were broken to begin with.

July TBR

I've got a bunch of ARCs that I've had for a while that come out in July that I need to read.  I'm actually really exited to read all of them.  I've either just been busy with other review copies or just reading other things for my challenge prompts or overwhelmed by life.  Once I get through my July  ARCs I have some challenge books I want to read but I don't want stress out about it. 

What are you planning to read in July?  Any recommendations for me?  I've been reading thrillers and retellings as of late. 

Books/Ebooks/ARCs

• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• I'm reading this for a book challenge about mental illness.  I picked it up at my library sale and it isn't terribly long.  I hope to get through it fairly quickly.  I've heard nothing but good things about this book.  I started it this past weekend and so far so good.   
• The Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
• This is the 3rd Little Mermaid retelling I've got on my docket.  I've had the ARC for a while and the book comes out in July.   I think this is the 3rd month it has been on my TBR.  I actually it today and the first chapter looks really promising.  This one tells the origins story of the Sea Witch so it is a little different than the others I've read.  I'm really excited to get to it. 
• Nyxia Unleased by Scott Reintgen
• I really loved the first book and I'm excited to see how the story plays out.  There is kind of a Hunger Games/Avatar kind of storyline where a bunch of teens compete for spots to go to a new planet to interact with the native lifeforms because they won't hurt children. The "crew" is supposed to mine Nyxia a new and awesome compound with endless possibilities.  At the end of book 1 they were headed to the planet.  This releases in July as well.
• Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
• This  is another ARC releasing at the end of July.  This follows 2 sisters on a brutal planet suffering from female oppression.  One sister is being groomed to be the heirs subjugate while the other one is rebellious.  Sounds really interesting.

Audiobooks

I have a couple of things on hold but who knows what will come in when.  I have a fairly long wishlist on Hoopla and there is always something interesting available to listen to in the available now section at the library if none of these work out.  The waiting list is pretty long for a couple of these since they are new releases and popular books.

• War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
• I'm using this to fill a challenge prompt with a weather element in the title.  The last 2 books kind of dragged on for me so I'm hoping audio will help with the pace.  I really like this series and I'm anxious to see how it plays out.  This should be a pretty epic conclusion and I really have no idea how its going to end.
• A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
• This is another new release, and I've only listened to the books.  I love the narrator and I can't imagine reading it any other way.  I really like this series and how it has progressed.  I'm excited to see where the characters go from where they left off in the last book.
• The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
• I listened to The Thief in June and really liked it.  I loved the mythology, the characters, and the politics.  Hopefully the rest of the series is just as good.
• Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
• I recently picked up Lady Midnight and having read all of the previous Shadowhunter books, I'm looking forward to continuing in that world.  It seems to have a very similar story line from the original series with a few new twists.  I've started this one already and it picks up pretty much where Lady Midnight leaves off.  It is fairly long so it will keep me occupied for a while.
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• I love Greek mythology.  I've heard a couple of reviews that this book is a bit slow and I find that audio helps with slower paced books sometimes.  I've also heard really great reviews about this so I'm excited to get to it.  
• Warcross by Marie Lu
• I've read most of Lu's other books, and I've been meaning to get to this one for a while.  I need a cyberpunk book for my reading challenge and this one should fit nicely.  I've heard mixed reviews, but I'm hopeful.